LAWR

RECYCLING FROM AN ISLAND From one island to another Jersey and Guernsey are situated only 27 miles apart. However, there are distinct differences between the two Channel Islands in how they handle their waste. Liz Gyekye explores further. uernsey and Jersey are not part of the United Kingdom or European Union, but are pos- sessions of the British Crown with independent administra- tions. The Crown is responsible for sec- tors such as defence but the islands maintain their own controls over waste and can set their own recycling targets. Jersey has no landfill capacity for non- inert (biodegradable) waste, so any waste that is not recycled can be incinerated at the island's energy-from-waste (EfW) plant. The goal is to remove as much recyclable material as possible and these materials are then baled and shipped off island for processing in England or France. In contrast, Guernsey is currently entirely reliant on landfill for disposing of its municipal and commercial waste. Its last available site at Mont Cuet is predicted to be full by 2022. Consequently, Guernsey has set out new plans in a new waste strategy. These include plans to begin exporting waste for off-island treatment and introducing a new charging system that rewards households that recycle and reduce waste. The new arrangements are due to be in place from 2016. Both islands offer kerbside collections and a range of waste management sites. Five parishes in Jersey offer kerbside collections. Jersey has one household waste recycling centre (HWRC) where all recyclables are accepted and garden waste. Guernsey is similar and has a HWRC and a green waste site. Bring banks are dotted around both islands. The parish of St Helier, which collects waste from around a third of the population, has just bought a new horizontal baler and feed conveyor from Middleton Engineering. It hopes its new kit will help it to process more materials. Like most islands that attract tourists, waste is collected before 6am in the morning and after 6pm in the evening to avoid disruption at busy times. Waste contractors sort the waste, bale it and ship it off the island. However, no material recovery facilities (MRF) exist in Jersey. States of Jersey recycling manager Emma Richardson- Calladine says it is not feasible to have a lot of infrastructure on the island due to small economies of scale. In contrast, Guernsey has a private-sector MRF which it uses to sort kerbside recyclables and bring-bank collected materials. Latest figures show that Jersey recycled 32% of its waste. Around 68% of its waste went into energy from waste. A total of 33,000 tonnes is collected for recycling. Green waste (15,500t) and glass (5,200t) is processed on the island. In 2013, Guernsey recycled 43.3% of its municipal and commercial waste. It landfilled around 33,000t of waste in 2013 (the same amount Jersey recycled). Both islands encounter challenges when managing their resources. Richardson-Calladine says no gate fee exists for its EfW plant. This means no incentives exist to recycle more. Richardson-Calladine says that Jersey relies on educational and awareness campaigns to help change behaviour. On the other hand, because the island is so small (you can walk around the 12x9-mile island in one day) people are accessible. Richardson-Calladine says that it is easy to engage with the community and schools and form good relationships with them. The small community recycling centre is "very well known" also. However, unlike the UK, you cannot "just take your car down the road to the council next door or neighbours to find out best practice", explains Richardson- Calladine. She says she normally has to fly over to the "mainland" for meetings which can be time consuming. Like Guernsey, Jersey is reliant on an export/ import network. States of Guernsey recycling officer Tina Norman-Ross also says in an island context there is no immediate flexible alternative if it produces excess waste. She says you cannot simply drive it to a neighbouring waste disposal authority's facility. As for the future, both islands have big plans. Guernsey is in a period of transition at the moment. It has adopted a strategy based on minimisation, including new recycling targets of 50% now, rising to 60% in 2018, and 70% in 2025. It is also planning to export RDF for energy recovery from 2016 onwards. Meanwhile, we are in the process of developing a new strategy that will also embed carbon metrics using the Zero Waste Scotland model and will include waste minisation and recycling targets. All in all, sisters like any family have similarities and differences. Buried or exposed treasure may be found on any island. It's how you make use of it and handle it that matters. 28 Local Authority Waste & Recycling October 2014 G Jersey • Languages: English and French • Area: (12x9m)119.5km² • Parishes: 12 • Population: 100,000 Guernsey • Languages: English and French • Area: Area: 78km² • Parishes: 10 • Population: 65,573 Key statistics " People are acces- sible and it is easy to engage with the commu- nity and schools "

• Cover